2017 in Review

There has been plenty to get excited about at Ravensbourne over the past year. We received Taught Degree Awarding Powers (TDAP), our postgraduate show became part of London Design Week for the first time, and students gained critical recognition from the design and media industries for their work throughout the year, recognised at acclaimed events like Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) and D&AD.

Take a look back at some of our biggest highlights over the past 12 months...

January

Ravensbourne alumni nominated at the BAFTA British Academy Film Awards

Ravensbourne alumni Charlotte Regan and Jack Hannon, graduates from the BA (Hons) Digital Film Production course had their film ‘Standby’ nominated for Best British Short Film at the British Academy Film Awards; a ceremony ran by BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts).

February

Students make a date with history as they film unveiling of bronze plaque to mark the first demonstration of television

Ravensbourne broadcast and television production students filmed the unveiling of a bronze history plaque in central London to mark the 91st anniversary of the first public demonstration of television. The unveiling of the plaque was part of a wider event organised by IEEE, the world’s largest professional association which aims to advance innovation and technological excellence for the benefit of humanity. The students were asked to film the plaque’s unveiling, which had to be edited and delivered to IEEE the same day to be screened at an event which celebrated the evolution of television through to the digital age and featured key industry speakers from IEEE and Sky.

Ravensbourne helps to educate students far and wide with the Royal Shakespeare Company

Ravensbourne broadcast students partnered with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) broadcasting RSC productions including King Lear, Othello and The Tempest. The event formed part of RSC Productions’ free schools' broadcasts, in which Shakespeare plays are broadcast free to schools around the country, giving young people a memorable first experience of the 16th century playwright.

March

Graduates scoop Royal Television Society Student Television Award

BA (Hons) Digital Film graduate Arran Green was awarded a Student Television Award in the ‘Craft Skills - Camera’ category for final major project film ‘Fear the Unknown Men’ by Director and fellow graduate Luke Shelley.

The Royal Television Society (RTS) Student Television Awards held at ITV Studios, recognise the best audiovisual work and excellence in craft by students at undergraduate and postgraduate level. Work that shows outstanding visual and aural creativity, a mastery of craft skills, innovation, initiative and storytelling.

Ravensbourne’s BA (Hons) Animation course was ranked in the ‘Top 100 International Animation Schools’ by Animation Career Review. Students have had the opportunity to work on major projects over the past 12 months, including collaborating with the BBC on a series of films about the weather.

Ravensbourne alumnus Alex Rudzinski, a broadcast graduate, won two Emmy Awards for his work on Grease Live! which aired on American television channel, Fox.

Alex, graduated from a two year HND course in broadcast TV operations when Ravensbourne was based in Chislehurst. He won ‘Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special’ and ‘Outstanding Special Class Program’ for his part in producing the show, which was shot on location at Warner Bros Studios in LA and featured Vanessa Hudgens, Carly Rae Jepson and Jessie J.

April

Design products student awarded paid placement with Marks and Spencer

William Richards, a second year BA (Hons) Design Products student was awarded a three month paid placement with the Marks & Spencer (M&S) Packaging Technology Team, after being chosen as the winner of the annual Ravensbourne M&S project which entered its 8th year this year.

May

Three scholarships to study at Ravensbourne awarded to homeless young people

Scholarships to study at Ravensbourne were awarded to three young people in a collaboration between Ravensbourne and Accumulate; a social enterprise which uses creativity to empower young people who are homeless.

The Access to Higher Education scholarships to study design and digital media were awarded to Jayakrishanth Narayanan, Luke Smith and Deluxe Mwengula for their talent and hard work at the private view of Accumulate’s exhibition ‘Made by Us’.

Ravensbourne partners with Ford to challenge the designers of the future to imagine the cars of tomorrow

With autonomous vehicles no longer confined to science-fiction novels, Ford challenged budding design students from Ravensbourne to imagine the future of car interiors. Three of the competing teams were chosen by Ford designers to have their visions showcased at the Ford design centre in Cologne.

June

Ravensbourne, received a Silver award for its excellent quality of teaching and learning from the government’s Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

The institution was commended for; its commitment to widening participation and recruiting students from a diverse range of backgrounds, high levels of practice-based approaches to learning such as industry projects, combined with excellent digital resources.

Fashion students shine at Graduate Fashion Week and All Walks Beyond the Catwalk

Ravensbourne’s fashion students shone at Graduate Fashion Week with two winning awards, seven runners up and many others shortlisted.

Nathalie Clarkson, BA (Hons) Fashion Promotion, won the Boohoo Social Media Award for the social media campaign around the development of her ethical multi-brand website, ‘Sourced’.

Her campaign surrounded Earth Day and encouraged young people to post their own activist Instagram posts using the hashtag #Climatechangeisreal.

Elizabeth Bishop also on the BA (Hons) Fashion Promotion course won the Drapers Publication Award for the development of her brand ‘Eternal’ which provides a community platform for women over the age of forty.

Additionally, seven students from Ravensbourne’s BA (Hons) Fashion Promotion course were shortlisted for the All Walks Beyond the Catwalk competition which asks fashion students to present their vision of a future where diverse representation is the norm.

The Stationers’ is heavily involved with and draws members from educational institutions such as Ravensbourne, which provide training and qualifications for those looking to enter and progress within the industry.

Discussing the event, Professor Linda Drew said: “It is a huge honour to be recognised in this way. I’m very much looking forward to meeting other Liverymen so we can learn from each other, share ideas and together develop strategies for the future of our industries which are vital to global economic health.”

BA(Hons) Design Products wins the John Lewis Award for Design and Innovation at New Designers

Lewis Calderwood, a student on the BA (Hons) Design Products course triumphed at ‘New Designers’, a national exhibition which celebrates emerging creative talent in the design industry, where he won the ‘John Lewis Award for Design and Innovation’.

August

£7K student award launched for social innovation postgraduate degree

Our International Student Mobility Scheme for international students applying to join our MDes Social Innovation degree this September was extended to allow students from 15 countries the chance to get 50% off our normal postgraduate tuition fees.

September

Ravensbourne’s postgraduate show included for the first time as part of London Design Festival 2017

Ravensbourne’s postgraduate degree show became a part of the prestigious London Design Festival for the first time this year, showcasing interdisciplinary design works from postgraduate students representing 21 nations.

October

Ravensbournetriumphs at Guild of Television Camera Professionals University Awards

Ravensbourne triumphed at the Bill Vinten GTC (Guild of Television Camera Professionals) University Awards this week, winning the overall ‘University Trophy’.

It was the first year Ravensbourne entered, submitting a portfolio of films including: dance routine ‘Anemoi’, a documentary on a new whisky distillery in ‘Speyside’ and the drama, ‘Wayfaring Strangers’.

Students, Olivia Norman-Reade and James Sheriden-Vigor from the BA (Hons) Digital Film Production course reached the individual shortlist. James, for his aerial work on ‘Speyside’ and Olivia for her cinematography work on ‘Anemoi’. Student, Peter Bishop who acted as a director of photography on ‘Wayfaring Strangers’ also had the highest scoring portfolio.

The Smarter Future Award takes place every month, supporting young entrepreneurs who are working on innovative solutions aimed at meeting the energy and resource needs of the growing population. The winner is awarded £5,000 to develop their idea.

Creative Quarter runs once a year at the V&A, providing secondary students aged 13-19 a free opportunity to learn from artists, designers, performers and theatre practitioners, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate students.

BA (Hons) Design Products students at Ravensbourne worked on solutions which enhance web browser accessibility with Mozilla; a global software community aiming to keep the internet “healthy, open and accessible to all”.

The winning team, ‘Spectrum’, was comprised of Sophie Woodhead, Jericho Cauilan, Abigail Ooi and Ali Faghihi. They presented a Firefox add-on designed to enhance the browsing process for those with phonological dyslexia, in regards to improving their reading experience.

Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, Jo Johnson speaks at Wonkhe’s inaugural festival

The Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation, Jo Johnson joined Wonkhe Editor Mark Leach on stage at the inaugural Wonkfest, hosted at Ravensbourne, to discuss the future of higher education.

Ravensbourne announces MArch (Architecture) degree, the first course to be validated under its own processes since receiving Taught Degree Awarding Powers

Ravensbourne launched the first course to be validated under its own processes since receiving Taught Degree Awarding Powers (TDAP), a two year Masters of Architecture course. Ravensbourne is now recognised as an institution that can award its own degrees and this two year course is a prestigious start.

December

Ravensbourne hosts Graduation at the Barbican Centre for the first time

Ravensbourne hosted their ‘Class of 2017’ Graduation ceremonies at the iconic Barbican Centre for the first time, presenting both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees to School of Design and School of Media graduates.

The ceremonies were led by Ravensbourne’s deans and Board of Governors, as well as Councillor Peter Brooks, Mayor of the Royal Borough of Greenwich.